%A Rashmi, M %A Virjee, Karim %A Yadava, T %A Vijayakumar, N %A Shoba, M %T Dentistry as a career: Motives and perception of dental students attending Dental Colleges in Bengaluru city, Karnataka, India %9 Original Article %D 2014 %J Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry %R 10.4103/2319-5932.144796 %P 194-198 %V 12 %N 3 %U https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2014;volume=12;issue=3;spage=194;epage=198;aulast=Rashmi %8 July 1, 2014 %X Introduction: The present study reflects a profile of dental students and their attitudes toward dentistry. Aim: The aim was to determine the motives and perceptions of undergraduate and postgraduate dental students attending Dental Colleges in Bangalore city. Subjects and Methods: All the Dental Colleges in the Bangalore city were included in this study. The students were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting 25 questions. The influence of certain factors was scored on a scale from 1 to 9. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test. Results: Two hundred and thirty-three (38.83%) students had dentistry as a first choice. In the present study, "caring profession" (94.33%) and private practice (25.6%) were the motives for choosing dentistry. Factor analysis was performed for Q9-23; the 15 questions were grouped under five factors: Influence, profession, flexibility, remuneration, and versatility. The level of agreement scores decreased from 1 st year B.D.S students to post graduate students. Conclusions: For selecting dentistry as a career job security, caring profession, flexibility, self-employment and prestigious profession were found to be important motivating and perception factors. Majority of students indicated that dentistry was not their first choice of career. Hence, it may be a good idea to establish educational programs in colleges to educate students on their career choices. %0 Journal Article %I Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications %@ 2319-5932